Game Review

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa Review

Let's be honest, a platformer built around a tiny baby and his rattle doesn't exactly beam with potential from the start, so it's no small wonder that this game was originally rejected by Nintendo of America at the time it was submitted for release in the US. But if you look at screenshots of Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa and prematurely dismiss it the way NOA did due to its overly silly premise, you'll be missing out on one of the most charming and playable 8-bit titles ever released for the Famicom system.

In Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa, you take on the role of an infant prince who's only weapon is his baby rattle. The baby prince can shake his rattle at enemies which will cause them to immediately inflate and begin to float away. The baby prince can then either hop onto these inflated enemies and ride them up until they explode or bump them with his body to send them shooting off as a projectile against other enemies. It's this simple, yet wildly playable control scheme, that makes the game so much fun to play. It also doesn't hurt that the play control itself is extremely responsive and well-executed.

The visuals in the game are actually extremely solid for an 8-bit title. Konami has always had a knack for pushing the NES/Famicom system visually and this game is no exception. In Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa, you'll find yourself knee-deep in a child's dream world complete with everything from candy-coated areas littered with lollipops and ice cream treats, to the inside of an actual computer complete with silicon chips and resistors. If you thought the areas in Parodius were insane, you haven't seen anything yet.

As if the outlandish visuals weren't enough, Konami was kind enough to throw in some really catchy tunes to go along with them. Every tune has an very upbeat tempo and a circus-like musical styling that goes along perfectly with the zany backdrops the game throws your way. Think of it as a cross between the music found in the Parodius and Twin Bee titles with a slightly more whimsical feel to it. The NES/Famicom system wasn't exactly known for its musical prowess, but Konami was still somehow able to siphon plenty of charm out of the console and the result is one of the best 8-bit era musical efforts.

Conclusion

It would be quite easy to take one look at this game and dismiss it as nothing more than a vain attempt to lure younger gamers in with a dumbed-down platforming experience, but those who do will be missing out on one of the most unique and interesting platformers to come out of the 8-bit era. It won't take you long to see why fans of this game have been clamoring for a sequel for almost two decades. If you're a platformer fan, you absolutely don't want to miss this one.

User Comments (5)

Really great game, and a really overlooked one at that. Guys, forget about 'quality' releases like 'Sonic Chaos' and 'Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars' and give this one a go, because sometimes well-known characters just get you to buy a product without thinking twice, only to go 'AWWW!!!!' afterwards...

Been playing this as part of of VC-forums monthly gaming club and boy am I glad I did! I love how each world is so uniquely themed and has its own "special" type of level that deviates from the standard platforming fare.